Conservative Partnership Institute
Conservative Partnership Institute is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that functions as an organizational incubator, shared-services platform, and grant-making hub for a network of conservative nonprofits registered at its address, funding their operations through annual Schedule I grant disbursements drawn from large anonymous contributions.
The Conservative Partnership Institute (CPI, EIN 82-1470217) is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by former Senator Jim DeMint that serves as an organizational incubator and grant-making center for a network of conservative nonprofits. IRS Form 990 data shows CPI's annual revenue grew from $1.8 million in 2017 to $45.7 million in 2021 before settling at $34.5 million in 2024 1. The 2021 revenue spike is attributable in large part to a single anonymous donor who contributed $25.7 million, representing 55 percent of total revenue that year 2. Analysis of multiple IRS 990 filings suggests that the broader upstream funding chain runs from Barre Seid's $1.6 billion Marble Freedom Trust transfer through DonorsTrust and affiliated intermediary vehicles to CPI 3.
CPI operates a hub-and-spoke organizational model centered on its address at 300 Independence Ave SE, Washington, D.C. 20003, where IRS 990 filings show at least ten separate nonprofits are registered 4. CPI's Schedule I grants funded these organizations directly: $3.9 million to eight grantees in 2021 5, $1.35 million to the Center for Renewing America alone in 2022 6, $3 million across eleven awards in 2023 7, and $8.45 million across twelve awards in 2024 8. Board and personnel interlocks connect CPI to organizations whose leadership later moved into the second Trump administration, including America First Legal Foundation, the Center for Renewing America, and the Election Integrity Network run by Cleta Mitchell 4.
Financial Activity
CPI's IRS Form 990 filings (EIN 82-1470217) document a revenue trajectory that accelerated sharply following the 2020 election. Annual revenue rose from $1.79 million in 2017 to $6.2 million in 2020, then jumped to $45.7 million in 2021 before moderating to $36.4 million in 2022, $19.5 million in 2023, and rebounding to $34.5 million in 2024. Total assets grew from $852,000 in 2017 to $72.3 million by 2024 1.
The 2021 revenue spike is attributable to highly concentrated anonymous giving. CPI's Schedule B for that year records a single anonymous individual contributing $25.7 million (55 percent of total revenue) and at least six other anonymous individuals each giving $1 million or more. Named donors in 2021 included the Trump Save America PAC at $1 million (dated July 26, 2021) and DonorsTrust at $1.3 million, with the DonorsTrust grant carrying earmarks of $200,000 for American Moment and $10,000 for the Election Integrity Network. Earlier disclosed donors include the Richard Uihlein foundation at $1.25 million in 2020 and the Stanley E. Fulton private foundation at $500,000. Because CPI files as a 501(c)(3), its Schedule B donor names are submitted to the IRS but are not publicly disclosed 2.
Investigative reporting compiled across IRS 990 filings for Marble Freedom Trust, DonorsTrust, the 85 Fund, and CPI traces a layered funding chain: Barre Seid transferred approximately $1.6 billion to Marble Freedom Trust in 2021 via a Tripp Lite share transfer. Marble Freedom Trust then granted $153.8 million to the 85 Fund in 2021 and $153.75 million in 2022, and $28.9 million to the Concord Fund in 2021 and $55.5 million in 2022. Separately, Marble Freedom Trust granted $59.1 million directly to DonorsTrust in 2020, and the 85 Fund transferred $92 million to DonorsTrust in 2022. DonorsTrust in turn granted $1.3 million to CPI in 2021. Analysis of these filings indicates that total documented flows from the Seid donation through final grantees exceed $100 million across the cluster of organizations sharing CPI's address and network 3. This estimate draws on multiple 990 filings and is rated medium confidence by the investigation.
On the grant-making side, CPI's Schedule I disbursements show a consistent pattern of funding affiliated organizations. In 2021, CPI granted $3.9 million across eight recipients: America First Legal Foundation received $1.33 million; the American Voting Rights Foundation / Center for American Restoration received $1 million; Center for Renewing America received $583,701; American Moment received $336,000; the American Accountability Foundation received $335,000 or more; the American Cornerstone Institute received $161,000; the Institute for Citizen Focused Service received $100,000; and the Public Interest Legal Foundation received $50,000 5. In 2022, total expenses reached $23.4 million, with the Center for Renewing America confirmed at $1.35 million and 11 total Schedule I awards 6. In 2023, the top four identified grantees were Personnel Policy Operations at $880,005, the FAIR Elections Fund at $795,000, the State Freedom Caucus Foundation at $568,500, and the Virginia Institute for Public Policy at $330,000, for a total of approximately $3 million across 11 awards 7. In 2024, total grants jumped to $8.45 million across 12 awards, nearly triple the 2023 level, against revenue of $34.5 million 8.
Key Relationships and Organizational Network
CPI's most documented organizational relationship is with America First Legal Foundation. CPI incubated AFL, the two organizations shared an address at 611 Pennsylvania Ave SE, and three CPI officers — Mark Meadows (CPI Senior Partner), Ed Corrigan (CPI President and CEO), and Wesley Denton (CPI Chief Operating Officer) — held seats on AFL's board 4. Russ Vought, who founded the Center for Renewing America as another CPI affiliate, also served as AFL board treasurer. AFL founder Stephen Miller returned to the White House as Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Advisor in January 2025, while AFL co-founder Gene Hamilton returned as senior White House counsel and Reed Rubinstein was nominated as State Department legal adviser.
The Center for Renewing America has overlapping board membership with CPI through Denton and Corrigan, and CRA files tax documents in care of CPI. CPI granted the Center for American Restoration (CRA's 501(c)(3) arm, EIN 854307005) $583,000 in 2021 and $1.35 million in 2022 6. The Center for Renewing America served as the pre-government base for Russ Vought, who became OMB Director in February 2025; Jeffrey Clark, who became acting OIRA Administrator in March 2025 before resigning in March 2026; Kash Patel, who became FBI Director in February 2025; and Mark Paoletta, who became OMB General Counsel. Each held senior fellow or director positions at CRA prior to entering government 4.
Cleta Mitchell runs CPI's Election Integrity Network and founded the Foundation for Accountability, Integrity and Research in Elections (FAIR Elections Fund, EIN 931870447), which is registered at 300 Independence Ave SE. CPI granted FAIR $795,000 in 2023 9. FAIR raised $3.9 million in its first full operating year (July 2023–June 2024), and more than 75 percent of its $2.1 million in expenses flowed as grants to other organizations. According to CMD reporting, the CPI $795,000 grant is the only documented external funding source for FAIR 9. Mitchell's Election Integrity Network co-hosted summits with the Republican National Committee and attracted sponsorship from the Heritage Foundation, with 20 or more EIN coalition members involved in Project 2025. According to CMD, Heather Honey served as FAIR's vice president alongside Mitchell as president, and subsequently moved into a DHS election integrity role.
CPI also housed Citizens for Sanity (president Gene Hamilton, also AFL vice president), which raised $93 million in 2022 and spent nearly all of it on advertising ahead of the midterm elections, with FlexPoint Media receiving $62 million or more of the $90 million ad spend. DonorsTrust, the primary named institutional funder of CPI in 2021, also distributed $21.3 million to AFL in 2024, $4.4 million to the America First Policy Institute in 2024, and $4.4 million to Teneo in 2024. Analysis of grant flow data across multiple 990 filings indicates that the same funding infrastructure channels resources across multiple organizations in the network 3.
Shared Address and Organizational Infrastructure
IRS Form 990 filings for each listed organization confirm that ten or more distinct nonprofit entities share CPI's registered address at 300 Independence Ave SE, Washington, D.C. 20003-1021: Conservative Partnership Institute (EIN 82-1470217), the Center for American Restoration (EIN 854307005), Citizens for Renewing America c4 (EIN 861769922), the American Accountability Foundation (EIN 854391204), Personnel Policy Operations (EIN 881773001), the State Freedom Caucus Foundation (EIN 883060056), the State Freedom Caucus Network c4 (EIN 873648308), American Moment (EIN 851875789), the Election Integrity Network (EIN 332585603), and the FAIR Elections Fund (EIN 931870447) 4. This shared registration reduces individual organizational overhead and allows rapid formation of new entities under existing administrative infrastructure.
The Personnel Policy Operations organization (PPO, EIN 881773001) received $880,005 from CPI in 2023, the largest single grant in CPI's Schedule I that year 7. Based on available 990 data and investigative reporting, PPO's stated function involves personnel placement and tracking for conservative movement candidates entering government — consistent with CPI's publicly stated mission of training and placing conservative congressional staff and executive branch personnel. CPI's 2024 grant surge to $8.45 million — timed to the election cycle and the period preceding the January 2025 presidential inauguration — concentrated resources in this network during the transition period 8.
All Connections
26 total
All Connections
26 totalCPI incubated AFL, shared address 611 Pennsylvania Ave SE, 3 CPI personnel on AFL board (Meadows, Corrigan, Denton)
CPI created and funded CRA: 583K direct grant plus 1M+ to c3 arm (Center for American Restoration) in 2021. Shared address at 300 Independence Ave SE DC. Board overlap: Denton and Corrigan serve on both boards. CRA files tax docs in care of CPI.
DonorsTrust granted 1.3M to CPI in 2021 including earmarks for American Moment and Election Integrity
CPI granted 880,005 to PPO in 2023
CPI granted 583K(2021) and 1.347M(2022) to CRA for mission activities
CPI granted 1,334,105 to AFL in 2021 for mission and program support
CPI granted 568,500 to SFCF in 2023
CPI granted 795,000 to FAIR Elections Fund in 2023
CPI granted 335,000+ to AAF in 2021
CPI granted 336,000 to American Moment in 2021
CPI granted 161,000 to ACI in 2021
CPI granted .03M to PPO (2022-2023). PPO is the personnel pipeline for Trump admin. Same address.
CPI granted K to EIN (2022-2023). CPI owns EIN per LittleSis. Cleta Mitchell directs both.
Senior Partner at CPI, compensation 587K. Also Director of State Freedom Caucus Network.
Founding Chairman, compensation 625K. CPI founded 2017.
CPI granted 364K to American Moment (2021-2023). Cultivates conservative staffers.
CPI granted 795K to FAIR Elections Fund (2023). Cleta Mitchell is President. Pat Corrigan is Treasurer.
President and CEO of CPI, compensation 440K. Also on boards of CRA c3, CRA c4, Leadership Institute
COO and Treasurer of CPI, compensation 439K. Also Chairman/Treasurer of CRA
Indirect but structurally significant: Buskirk's Rockbridge Network overlaps CPI orbit through shared personnel (Ned Ryun), donor networks, and MAGA alignment
All Findings
21 total
All Findings
21 totalfinancial (16)
CPI 2021 major donors: anonymous 25.7M (55%), Save America PAC 1M, DonorsTrust 1.3M, six 1M+ anonymous donors
CPI 2021 Schedule B reveals: Single anonymous individual gave 25.7M (more than 55% of total revenue). At least six other anonymous individuals each gave 1M+. Named donors: Trump Save America PAC 1M (July 26 2021), DonorsTrust 1.3M (with earmarks for American Moment 200K and Election Integrity 10K). Richard Uihlein foundation gave 1.25M in 2020. Stanley E Fulton private foundation 500K. Chicago Community Trust 200K. CPI tax status as 501c3 means Schedule B donor names filed with IRS but not made public.
CPI anonymous 25.7M donor identified as Mike Rydin (Michael Rydin), 74-year-old retired Houston software developer who founded HCSS (Heavy Construction Systems Specialists) in 1986. Rydin confirmed the donation to The Daily Beast. His identity was traced through CPI internal audit filed in NY charity database and CPI property names: 'Rydin House' (Capitol Hill townhome, .5M, 2020) and 'Camp Rydin' (2,200-acre Chesapeake Bay retreat, .25M, Dec 2021). The ,638,709 constituted 56% of CPI's .7M revenue in 2021 and exceeded CPI's combined fundraising from its first four years (2017-2020). Rydin also gave K in 2020. This is NOT a Barre Seid/Marble Freedom Trust pass-through — Rydin is an independent donor motivated by admiration for CPI founder Jim DeMint.
NEGATIVE FINDING: No documented direct grant from Marble Freedom Trust, 85 Fund, Concord Fund, or Rule of Law Trust to CPI in 990 records. MFT's documented grants go to: Schwab Charitable ($153.8M 2022), Rule of Law Trust ($153M 2021), Concord Fund ($28.9M 2022, $16.5M 2021), DonorsTrust ($41.1M 2021). The 85 Fund grants go primarily to DonorsTrust ($71.1M 2021). DonorsTrust did give CPI $1.027M in 2021, but this is far less than $25.7M. The MFT->DonorsTrust->CPI pipeline exists but at the $1M level, not $25.7M level. The hypothesis that Seid/MFT was the $25.7M donor is REFUTED.
DARK MONEY OVERLAY: Same funders back all pipeline nodes. DonorsTrust funded: CPI (1.027M 2021, 927K 2022, 607K 2023), AFL (3.14M 2023, 99K 2022, 25K 2021), PILF (251K 2023, 250K 2021), TTV (250K 2021, 207K 2022, 51K 2023), Heritage (361K 2021, 408K 2022, 547K 2023), CRA (226K 2023, 30K 2022). Bradley Impact Fund funded: AFL (27.14M 2022, 302K 2021), CPI (712K 2022, 354K 2021, 252K 2023), PILF (425K 2022, 252K 2021, 125K 2023), TTV (34K 2023, 10K 2022), Heritage (105K 2022, 280K 2021). Servant Foundation funded: CPI (5.45M 2023, 1.52M 2024, 1.01M 2022), PILF (500K 2024, 401K 2023), TTV (22K 2024, 12K 2023), CRA (86K 2024). 85 Fund (Leo): sent 92M to DonorsTrust (2023), directly funded PILF 400K (2020). The pipeline traces: 85Fund/MFT -> DonorsTrust -> CPI -> satellite orgs (AFL, PILF, FAIR/EIN, CRA, AAF).
RYDIN FOUNDATION - MAJOR CPI/AFL FUNDER: The Rydin Foundation gave CPI 5M (2023) + 1.5M (2022) = 6.5M total, and AFL 1.5M (2023), plus Heritage 167K (2023). Total 8.17M to pipeline orgs. LittleSis identifies Mike Rydin and Michael T Rydin as donors to CPI. The Rydin Foundation is a significant undocumented funder of the election enforcement pipeline, backing both the hub (CPI) and a key satellite (AFL) with multi-million dollar grants.
CPI GRANT NETWORK TO ALL THREE VOTER PIPELINE NODES CONFIRMED: Node 1 (Data Collection): CPI funded FAIR Elections Fund 795K (2023), FAIR has Cleta Mitchell as President and Heather Honey as VP. CPI also funded Election Integrity Network 525K (2022) + 20K (2023). Node 2 (DOJ Feeder): CPI funded AFL 1.334M (2021) + 30K (2022). CPI funded PILF 50K (2021). CPI funded CRA 1.347M (2022) + 584K (2021), and CRA funded EIN 228K (2022). Node 3 (DHS): Heather Honey serves as VP of FAIR Elections Fund — a CPI satellite org. CPI total outgoing grants across all satellite orgs: 3.9M (2021), 5.4M (2022), 3.0M (2023), 8.45M (2024). CPI is the organizational hub connecting all three pipeline nodes.
CPI TOP DOCUMENTED FUNDERS (via 990 recipient-EIN search, EIN 82-1470217): Servant Foundation $7.98M (2022-2024), Rydin Foundation $6.5M (2022-2023), Dunn Foundation $5M (2023-2024), DonorsTrust $2.55M (2021-2023), Schwab Charitable $1.15M (2021-2023), Bradley Impact Fund $1.32M (2021-2023), Woodforest Charitable $1.68M (2021-2022), Vanguard Charitable $1.33M (2022-2024), Fidelity Charitable $883K (2021-2023), Natl Christian Charitable $615K (2021-2023), USATransform $600K (2022), Citizens United Foundation $300K (2021). But the $25.6M personal Rydin gift (2021) dwarfs all of these combined. Total documented 990 grants to CPI: $20.9M across 77 grants. With Rydin personal donation, over $46M from known sources.
CPI Revenue Trajectory: 1.8M(2017) to 45.7M(2021) to 34.7M(2024)
EIN 821470217 revenue: 2017=1,787,723 | 2018=4,328,406 | 2019=5,322,860 | 2020=6,202,407 | 2021=45,707,730 | 2022=36,397,454 | 2023=19,498,478 | 2024=34,490,626. Assets grew from 852K(2017) to 72.3M(2024). 2021 spike of 7x coincided with Barre Seid 1.6B donation through Marble Freedom Trust. Single anonymous donor gave 25.7M in 2021 (55% of revenue). 2024 revenue rebound to 34.7M suggests reinvestment ahead of second Trump term.
CPI Schedule I grants out 2021: 3.9M total to 8 satellite orgs
CPI 2021 Schedule I grants: America First Legal Foundation=1,334,105 | American Voting Rights Foundation/Center for American Restoration=1,000,000 | Center for Renewing America=583,701 | American Moment=336,000 | American Accountability Foundation=335,000+ | American Cornerstone Institute=161,000 | Institute for Citizen Focused Service=100,000 | Public Interest Legal Foundation=50,000. Total grants to partners: 3.9M.
CPI Schedule I grants 2022: CRA got 1.347M, total 11 awards
CPI 2022 Schedule I had 11 awards. Confirmed: Center for Renewing America received 1,347,000 for mission activities. Other grantees not yet fully enumerated from 990 but likely include SFCF, PPO, AAF, American Moment. Total CPI expenses 2022 = 23,363,874.
CPI Schedule I grants 2023: 3M total, 11 awards. Top: PPO 880K, FAIR Elections 795K, SFCF 568K, VIPP 330K
CPI 2023 Schedule I grants (11 awards over 5K): Personnel Policy Organization Inc 880,005 | FAIR Elections Fund 795,000 | State Freedom Caucus Foundation 568,500 | Virginia Institute for Public Policy 330,000. Total grants = approximately 3M. CPI total expenses 2023 = 21,232,349. FAIR Elections Fund is Cleta Mitchell new entity (EIN 931870447).
CPI 2024 grants surged to 8.45M total, 12 awards
CPI 2024 Form 990 shows 8,451,000 in total grants (12 awards), up from 3M in 2023. Revenue rebounded to 34,490,626 from 19,498,478. This nearly tripling of grant-making coincides with election year and pre-inauguration personnel placement activity.
FAIR Elections Fund received 795K from CPI in 2023, raised 3.9M in first full year - Cleta Mitchell election ops vehicle
Foundation for Accountability Integrity and Research in Elections (FAIR Elections Fund, EIN 931870447) is Cleta Mitchell new dark money entity. CPI granted 795,000 to FAIR Elections Fund in 2023 (per 990 Schedule I). FAIR raised 3.9M in first full year (July 2023-June 2024). More than 75% of FAIR 2.1M expenses went to grants to other organizations. FAIR not required to disclose donors. CMD identified only CPI 795K grant as a documented funding source. FAIR registered at same 300 Independence Ave SE address. Ruling date 2024-01.
CPI dark money pipeline: Seid->MFT->85Fund/Concord->DonorsTrust->CPI->9 satellite orgs. Total documented flows exceed 100M
Complete dark money pipeline mapped: (1) Barre Seid 1.6B to Marble Freedom Trust 2021 via Tripp Lite share transfer. (2) MFT grants to 85 Fund (via Schwab Charitable: 153.8M in 2021, 153.75M in 2022) and Concord Fund (28.9M in 2021, 55.5M in 2022). (3) 85 Fund transfers 92M to DonorsTrust in 2022. MFT gave 59.1M directly to DonorsTrust in 2020. (4) DonorsTrust grants to CPI (1.3M in 2021), AFL (21.3M in 2024), AFPI (4.4M in 2024), Teneo (4.4M in 2024). Also Bradley Impact Fund 27.1M to AFL in 2022 (BIF received 12.7M from DonorsTrust). (5) CPI grants to satellites: 3.9M(2021), estimated 5-6M(2022), 3M(2023), 8.45M(2024). CPI satellite recipients include CRA/AFL/AAF/PPO/SFCN/SFCF/AM/EIN/FAIR/VIPP. All share 300 Independence Ave SE address. Total pipeline from Seid donation through final grantees exceeds 100M in documented flows.
CPI (EIN 82-1470217) is a 501(c)(3) at 300 Independence Ave SE, DC. Revenue exploded from $6.2M (2020) to $45.7M (2021), now $19.5M (2023). Assets: $71M. Led by Jim DeMint (Chairman, $625K), Mark Meadows (Senior Partner, $588K), Ed Corrigan (President/CEO, $440K), Wesley Denton (COO/Treasurer, $439K). CPI made $10.7M in grants to 17 incubated organizations (2021-2023).
990 filings show CPI's revenue trajectory: $1.8M (2017), $4.3M (2018), $5.3M (2019), $6.2M (2020), $45.7M (2021), $36.4M (2022), $19.5M (2023). The 7x jump from 2020 to 2021 coincided with Trump leaving office. Major donors: Servant Foundation ($6.97M cumulative), Rydin Foundation ($6.5M), Dunn Foundation ($5M), Donors Trust ($1.95M), Bradley Impact Fund ($712K), Woodforest Charitable Foundation ($1.68M), USATransform ($600K), Vanguard Charitable ($1.03M), WL Amos Sr Foundation ($900K), Schwab Charitable ($564K). CPI has 14 disregarded entities listed on its 990.
CPI grant network: $10.76M distributed to 17 organizations (2021-2023). Largest recipients: Center for Renewing America ($1.94M), America First Legal ($1.37M), Personnel Policy Operations ($2.03M), American Voting Rights Foundation ($1M), State Freedom Caucus Foundation ($1.03M), FAIR Elections Fund ($795K), Election Integrity Network ($545K), American Accountability Foundation ($545K), American Moment ($364K), FDRLST Media Foundation ($175K), Virginia Institute for Public Policy ($505K), American Cornerstone Institute ($161K).
All 17 CPI grant recipients from 990 filings (2021-2023): Center for Renewing America Inc (854307005) $1,940,701; America First Legal Foundation (862190372) $1,374,105; Personnel Policy Organization/Operations (881773001) $2,030,005; American Voting Rights Foundation (871891209) $1,005,000; FAIR Elections Fund (931870447) $795,000; State Freedom Caucus Foundation (883060056) $1,032,248; Election Integrity Network Inc (882166493) $545,000; American Accountability Foundation (854391204) $545,100; American Moment Inc (851875789) $364,000; FDRLST Media Foundation (825231385) $175,000; Virginia Inst for Public Policy (541870848) $505,000; American Cornerstone Institute (861545903) $160,950; American Main Street Initiative (873579772) $88,500; Institute for Citizen Focused Service (862967724) $100,000; Public Interest Legal Foundation (454355641) $50,000; Conservative Partnership Initiative (920747253) $20,000; Institute for Legislative Analysis (923231068) $10,000; Capitol Hill Christian Academy (883303022) $10,000; Election Integrity Project (871277640) $5,505.
relationship (2)
CPI 300 Independence Ave SE is shared address for 9+ satellite orgs - organizational hub pattern
All CPI satellite organizations registered at 300 Independence Ave SE, Washington DC 20003-1021: Conservative Partnership Institute (EIN 821470217) | Center for American Restoration/CRA (EIN 854307005) | Citizens for Renewing America c4 (EIN 861769922) | American Accountability Foundation (EIN 854391204) | Personnel Policy Operations (EIN 881773001) | State Freedom Caucus Foundation (EIN 883060056) | State Freedom Caucus Network c4 (EIN 873648308) | American Moment (EIN 851875789) | Election Integrity Network (EIN 332585603) | FAIR Elections Fund (EIN 931870447). This hub-and-spoke model enables rapid org creation while sharing infrastructure costs.
CPI officer network spans at least 8 organizations via shared leadership. Ed Corrigan: CPI President/CEO + Board Member at Center for Renewing America, Citizens for Renewing America, Leadership Institute. Wesley Denton: CPI COO/Treasurer + Chairman/Treasurer at Center for Renewing America + Treasurer at Citizens for Renewing America. Cleta Mitchell: CPI Senior Legal Fellow + President of FAIR Elections Fund + Chairman of Public Interest Legal Foundation + Director of Election Integrity Network. Patrick Corrigan: Treasurer at FAIR Elections Fund + Treasurer at State Freedom Caucus Foundation.
Cross-referencing 990 officer searches reveals interlocking directorates across CPI and its incubated orgs. All share 300 Independence Ave SE, DC 20003 as their address. Key overlaps: (1) Ed Corrigan sits on CPI, CRA c3, CRA c4, and Leadership Institute boards; (2) Wesley Denton spans CPI, CRA c3, CRA c4; (3) Cleta Mitchell spans FAIR Elections, PILF, Election Integrity Network; (4) Patrick Corrigan (Ed's brother) serves as Treasurer at FAIR Elections Fund and State Freedom Caucus Foundation; (5) Gene Hamilton: AFL VP/General Counsel + Citizens for Sanity President + EIN Secretary/Director; (6) Russ Vought: CRA President + AFL Treasurer; (7) Mark Meadows: CPI Senior Partner + State Freedom Caucus Network Director. NYT reported CPI paid $3.2M+ since 2021 to companies led by its own leaders or their relatives, including Compass Professional, Compass Legal Services, Compass Property Management, and Compass Direct LLC.
intelligence (3)
CPI is a formal member of Project 2025. CPI-incubated organizations placed multiple leaders in Trump admin roles: Ed Corrigan led personnel selection for domestic policy departments; Russ Vought (CRA President, AFL Treasurer) was nominated as OMB Director; Stephen Miller (AFL President) became Deputy Chief of Staff; Gene Hamilton (AFL VP/General Counsel) returned to DOJ. PPO (Personnel Policy Operations) received $2.03M from CPI and placed Trump-aligned staff in positions critical to the incoming administration.
LittleSis confirms CPI is a member of Project 2025. The personnel pipeline operates through multiple channels: (1) PPO (EIN 88-1773001, founded 2023, $2M revenue) led by John Troup Hemenway, Matt Buckham, Alexei Woltornist - received $2.03M from CPI and itself granted $1.56M to Constitutional Rights Defense Fund; (2) American Moment (EIN 85-1875789, $1.3M revenue) led by Saurabh Sharma cultivates conservative staffers; (3) CPI's own CP Academy (Hugh Fike, $224K) trains conservative operatives. Ed Corrigan was tapped by the Trump Transition to lead personnel for all domestic policy departments. CPI alumni in Trump admin: Russ Vought (OMB), Stephen Miller (Deputy CoS), Gene Hamilton (DOJ), Hugh Fike (OMB veteran), Wesley Denton (OMB veteran).
All CPI-incubated organizations share the address 300 Independence Ave SE, Washington DC 20003. This includes: CPI itself, PPO, CRA (c3), State Freedom Caucus Foundation, AAF, American Moment, FAIR Elections Fund. Axios reported in 2023 that CPI bought prime DC office space. The co-location pattern combined with shared officers (Corrigan, Denton, Mitchell, Hamilton) indicates these are functionally departments of a single operation, not independent organizations.
All 7 organizations sharing 300 Independence Ave SE: (1) CPI EIN 821470217; (2) PPO EIN 881773001; (3) Center for Renewing America EIN 854307005; (4) State Freedom Caucus Foundation EIN 883060056; (5) American Accountability Foundation EIN 854391204; (6) American Moment EIN 851875789; (7) FAIR Elections Fund EIN 931870447. The address consolidation and officer overlap create what is effectively a holding-company structure using 501(c)(3) and (c)(4) designations. NYT reported CPI paid 3.2M to insider-led Compass companies (Compass Professional, Compass Legal, Compass Property Management, Compass Direct LLC).
CPI-incubated org leaders who moved to Trump administration: Russell Vought (CRA President -> OMB Director); Stephen Miller (AFL President -> Deputy Chief of Staff); Gene Hamilton (AFL VP/General Counsel -> DOJ senior role); Ed Corrigan (CPI President -> led domestic policy personnel); Jeffrey Clark (CRA Sr Fellow -> DOJ nominee). CPI is formally part of Project 2025 coalition.
The revolving door between CPI-incubated orgs and the Trump administration is systematic: (1) Russell Vought: President of Center for Renewing America (314K comp) and Treasurer of AFL -> nominated as OMB Director; (2) Stephen Miller: President of America First Legal Foundation (267K comp) -> Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy; (3) Gene Hamilton: VP and General Counsel of AFL (454K comp) and President of Citizens for Sanity -> returned to DOJ senior role; (4) Ed Corrigan: CPI President/CEO -> led personnel selection for all domestic policy departments during Trump transition; (5) Jeffrey Clark: Senior Fellow and Director of Litigation at CRA (202K comp) -> DOJ nominee (previously attempted to overturn 2020 election results); (6) Hugh Fike and Wesley Denton: both CPI staffers and OMB veterans. Mark Meadows (former White House Chief of Staff) is CPI Senior Partner at 588K. LittleSis confirms CPI is a formal member of Project 2025.